Islets of Langerhans

Achievement Standard Biology 91604 Blood Glucose Regulation Homeostasis and Negative Feedback The control of glucose levels in the blood is an example of homeostasis. Homeostasis is the body maintaining a stable internal state despite changes in the external environment. This homeostasis is achieved through negative feedback. Negative feedback is when a deviation of normal levels is brought back to the normal level by a corrective response. The larger the deviation from the normal, the greater the

Homeostasis is defined as the constant maintenance of internal equilibrium in order for the body to function at a stable and optimal level. There are many different things the body has to maintain and keep under control in order for this to happen and one of these is maintaining the blood glucose level (BGL). Glucose is the preferred fuel source used in the human body. There are several important cells and organs in the body that require a constant supply of glucose to properly function, these include

Bernard demonstrated that pancreatic juice could digest fats and starches. Then, in 1869, Paul Langerhans described islands of cells embedded within the fleshy tissue and these were later named ‘islets of Langerhans’ in his honour. Research by von Mering and Minkowski in 1889 was the first to connect the pancreas to Diabetes Mellitus and later Eugene Opie provided evidence that it was the islets of Langerhans that were involved in diabetes. (Busnardo et al.,1983).

Homeostasis Homeostasis is an organism’s ability to maintain and regulate a stable internal environment through homeostatic mechanisms involving the sensor, controller, effector and output as well as keeping the environment at equilibrium through negative feedback. Within the body there are several internal systems which have to be controlled through homeostasis, such as; thermoregulation, osmotic balance and glucose regulation. This report will be on blood glucose regulation. As previously stated

Homeostasis Biology 91604 (3.4B) • Describe the purpose of the homeostatic system The definition of homeostasis: “Homeostasis involves a control system by which an animal maintains a stable internal environment, despite fluctuations in their environment.” Purpose of homeostasis according to referenced website: “The purpose of homeostasis is to maintain a normal balance throughout the body in regards to: temperature, salt concentration, water concentration and food intake. The human body has very

Homeostasis Homeostasis is an organism’s ability to maintain and regulate a stable internal environment through homeostatic mechanisms involving the sensor, controller, effector and output as well as keeping the environment at equilibrium through negative feedback. Within the body there are several internal systems which have to be controlled through homeostasis, such as; thermoregulation, osmotic balance and glucose regulation. This report will be on blood glucose regulation. As previously stated

ABSTRACT: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a metabolic hormone with insulinotropic properties involved in the enhancement of glucose-induced insulin secretion from the islets of Langerhans after eating. GLP-1 has many beneficial effects in diabetes including (but not limited to) activation of somatostatin secretion from delta cells, inhibition of glucagon release from alpha cells, reduced gastric emptying, and food intake resulting in weight loss in the long run. Unfortunately, the incretin response

“Alright Mr. Smith, I hate to inform you, but yes, you do have Diabetes Type 2.” In 2012, 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes. Of the 29.1 million, 21.0 million were diagnosed, and 8.1 million were undiagnosed. "In 1996 diabetes contributed to more than 162,000 deaths"(Lewis 1367). According to, well known, diabetes researcher McCance "Diabetes mellitus is not a single disease but a group of disorders with glucose intolerance in common" (674). Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic

No one can catch cancer from another person. While it can seldom be explained why one person gets any type of cancer and another doesn't, it is very clear that the disease is not contagious. Although research scientists do not know the exact causes of cancer of the pancreas, they are always learning some things that can increase a person's chance of getting this disease. Smoking of any kind is a major risk factor and research shows that cigarette smokers tend to develop cancer of the pancreas two

forming the bulk of the gland, produce an enzyme-rich juice that is ducted into the small intestine during food digestion.      Scattered among the acinar cells are approximately a million pancreatic islets (islets of Langerhans), minute cell clusters that produce pancreatic hormones. The islets contain two major populations of hormone-producing cells, the glucagen-synthesizing alpha cells and the more numerous insulin-producing beta cells. Insulin and glucagons are intimately but independently